Helder Guimarães

SLEIGHT-OF-HAND MAGICIAN

TRICKSTER / DECEIVER

STORYTELLER

NEWS

OCEAN'S 8

In 2016 / 2017, Helder consulted on Ocean's 8, personally training Oscar-winning actresses Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett for their roles in the movie. Using his knowledge of con artists, hustlers and other scammers, Helder was responsible for recreating for the camera the feeling of a casino heist as well as annotations on parts of the script. See the trailer here.

INVISIBLE TANGO AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

In 2019, Helder will be opening a new solo show at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Entitled Invisible Tango, this show is set to be directed by Hollywood legendary producer, director and magic lover Frank Marshall, responsible for many blockbuster hits like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Back to the Future Trilogy, The Six Sense and Jurassic Park. More info here.

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PAST SHOWS

NOTHING TO HIDE

In 2012, Helder Guimaraes premiered his show Nothing To Hide at the Geffen Playhouse, directed by Neil Patrick Harris. The show was critically acclaimed and ended up Off-Broadway, at the Signature Theater, playing a sold-out limited run of four months.

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“Unseen and unfathomable artistry is behind each feat.” –The New York Times "Critic's Choice"

“Marvelous! Amazing! Gasp again and again!” –Variety

“Remarkable… refreshing… mind-boggling!” –Backstage

BORROWED TIME

In the beginning of 2016, Helder Guimarães debuted a limited engagement magic experience. Merging art, theater and Helder’s sleight-of-hand virtuosity in a secret location, Borrowed Time received acclaimed reviews by critics and audience members alike, running for four sold-out months purely on word of mouth.

“A Mind-Blowing Magic Show! The best magical performance you might ever see in LA.” –LA Weekly

VERSO

In September 2016, Helder Guimarães debuted Verso, a one-man Off-Broadway show. Directed by Rodrigo Santos, Verso merged theater, magic and mind feats to create an impossible theatrical experience that was critically acclaimed by audiences who gave it a standing ovation every single night.

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“A Master of Illusions!” –The New York Times

“Ace in the Hole!” –Huffington Post

“Be baffled by seemingly miraculous feats!” –Broadway World

DONE BY MIRRORS

I am not a religious person, but I respect people who believe in religion. What I don’t respect are people who use religion as a weapon in their personal agendas, but that is a question for another time. I found a very interesting story by Blaise Pascal and his reasoning for believing in God in The Mind Club by Daniel M. Wegner and Kurt Gray.

When Bobby Fischer, considered by many the greatest chess player of all time, captured the World Chess Championship from Boris Spassky in 1972, it meant much more than a chess game. The reason it attracted worldwide interest more than any chess game before or since was the meaning behind what it meant: two nationalities competing for supremacy in intelligence.

One of my favorite subjects in life is understanding people: understanding why they do what they do and how they make their own decisions. The book Sway - The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman describes an interesting experience that portrays one of those irrational behaviors that are reflective of how humans think. After reading, ask yourself what would have been your decision.

Charles Bukowski needs no introduction. Living a very interesting and unique life, he has left us with an amazing body of work. Using raw language to connect directly with the reader, Bukowski’s directness didn’t take away beauty from many of his compositions.

Always finding parallels with my activity, I sometimes read books about completely different subjects that strike a chord with me. In the research for a project, I have recently recalled a section of the book The Language of Things, by Deyan Sudjic, that completely explores the notion of perception in how much we value things, exploring the simple design of a banknote.

There is a George Bernard Shaw quote that says we use mirrors to see our faces but works of art to see our souls. For me, these sources of inspiration come from art, science, philosophy. I am driven and fascinated by stories and narratives, and how they enlighten new and unknown territory. Using an analogy, ideas and knowledge have become the mirrors I seek instead of a reflection that is presented to myself.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

Here is a small teaser of Helder's work. It was the feature promo for his last Off-Broadway show in NY, Verso. It blends sleight-of-hand, storytelling and ideas into one unique deception.

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AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS

Over the last 15 years, Helder Guimarães has received many international accolades. He received top honors from both the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, as well as being proclaimed World Champion of Magic by FISM, the International Federation of Magic Societies. The New York Times called him "a master of illusions,"TED Talks says he "slips and slides cards on a table, wowing you with invisible technique, unorthodox psychology and fresh humor," and Magic Magazine named him “one of the brightest thinkers and performers of his generation.” But his favorite commendations may be from the Los Angeles Times review of Borrowed Time, saying "he seems remarkably sincere and trustworthy for a man committed to deception," and from the New York Times review of Verso, where the reviewer acknowledges his reputation for exquisite technique: "his hands have such a liquid grace that they appear to contain no bones."

Helder is simply the best close up, sleight-of-hand magician I’ve ever seen.